Some of our viewers may have noticed the web sites for WATVA and Trail Patrol were not accessible Saturday to Monday. So I thought I would give the low down on what happened. If you have no interest in the inner workings of the internet, you can stop here. Might I suggest this page instead: http://metobs.ssec.wisc.edu/aoss/cameras/hawkcam-flash.html
So where to start? I think i will start at where the problem came from. The web servers upgrade. A lot of people love to update, but those of us that deal with IT dread upgrades. Why? It usually means something is not going to work like it supposed to, and that means sheer panic for the folks the depend on the said technology.
A few weeks ago I noticed that our web server, which is sitting a comfortable air conditioned warehouse in San Jose, California (we share a rented dedicated server from HostGator.com), had some things that just didn't work right on it. However, they were not pressing issue, just things that made life a little harder to deal with on the server. That is until I noticed the server was running a Linux operating system that was a few versions old. A few versions isn't so bad actually, as it was a solid operating system in terms of reliability. However the upgrades offered some things that I really wanted to make my job a little easier and more reliable. How often does our web server go down or get restarted? In the last year, the web server has been restarted once. 364 solid days of running! I can't go more than a week without restarting my desktop. So I decided that the benefits outweighed the potential drawbacks to upgrading, even though I knew some headaches would come up.
The server was taken offline Friday May 11th at 11pm CST. The update, from HostGator, would take about 5 hours. They sent me emails during critical moments of the upgrade, which was nice. Around 4am the update was complete. HostGator sent me an email saying they would retain the old server for 48 hours before recycling the hard drive.
On our systems down in Sheboygan, all the web sites came back without an issue. Not only did they come back without a problem, they loaded a lot faster. I thought wow, no problem, this is rare! Then Sunday came. Sunday afternoon we received an email from a great WATVA member in the north woods that said she was unable to access the site. We sent off some emails to our Regional Coordinators in the north to confirm this. Most said they could not access it, while one said if he used his wireless data he could but not cable internet. To me, that made no sense. So, where did we go wrong?
I started to look at the setup of the server. Everything seemed to be in order. Hmm. So I had the person send me a screen shot of what error they were getting or what their screen looked like. This helps me to get pointed in the right direction. I figured out it wasn't the hardware of the server, this was a software glitch, most likely a DNS issue.
DNS? What is that?!? DNS, or Domain Name Server, is like the internet's white pages. They are computers setup all over the world that keep the physical address of a web site in a directory. Physical Address? Let me explain! When you go to the web site www.watva.org, you're not really viewing a page from the web address of watva.org. Nope, sorry. The fancy letters that make up www.watva.org are actually a mask! A mask for what? This: 50.23.12.151, and IP address. That's the true address for this server (among other sites that are sitting on this server). Computers and such on the internet have no idea what www.watva.org means, but they do know what the IP address means. An IP address is much like your house address or phone number, more like your phone number. If you really want to learn more about IP addresses, see the wikipedia document here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_address. I tried to find a nice graphic of DNS and the internet, but they made my head hurt, so I shall spare you.
So where does DNS fit in with IP addresses? Right here! A domain name server is a giant list that says if you want to visit www.watva.org, your computer needs to send it's request the web server at the address of 50.23.125.151. If your going to a web server that has multiple web sites on it, such as the server WATVA has (it shares its web site with National Motorsports, Rider Network, NOHVIS, etc.), the DNS server knows what page to show you based on your request. Again, a giant directory is all DNS is.
Back to the main topic here, the settings for the DNS on our server were incorrect, but only slightly. Each internet service is different, and each domain name server is different. Some understood that the error with WATVA was only partial, so it did find a way to send its requests here. Domain name servers in the north, did not understand this and gave users a web site not found page. So, with some researching and pulling of some hairs, I resolved those issues on the server. Only, users were still not getting there, and furthermore I now could not access the site.
Not only did I find that some settings were wrong on the web server, but there were some incorrect settings with some of the domain name setup itself (which we use GoDaddy for our domains)! That's a larger problem however, in terms of trouble shooting. Why? Each time you visit www.watva.org your computer remembers that the web site watva.org goes to the specific IP address. It remembers this for around 12-24 hours unless a setting says to forget it at a different time. So if I made a change, I would have to wait 12-24 hours to see if it worked. That's a pain. I was able to get around this a little by using some handy tools that dont make me wait. However, all of my users didnt have these tools and I wouldn't expect anyone to have them either.
In the end, we got the issues resolved with both the domain server and the domain name. It took a few days but that's the nature of the beast with DNS issues.
Randy Harden, president of the Wisconsin ATV Association and other key representatives from land managers, law enforcement and recreational riders testified in favor of both bills in front of the Assembly Committee on Transportation.
Under current law, a person may not operate a snowmobile, an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), or a motorboat while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance to a degree that he or she cannot operate the vehicle or boat safely. Under current law, a personal watercraft is included in the definition of "motorboat." Current law also prohibits the operation of an ATV, a recreational motorboat, or a snowmobile by a person who has an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more. For motorboats being operated on a commercial basis, the maximum alcohol concentration is 0.04. These laws are respectively referred to under current law as the intoxicated operation of an ATV law, the intoxicated boating law, and the intoxicated snowmobiling law. Under current law, a person who refuses to submit to a legal request for a breath, blood, or urine sample pursuant to an arrest for operating a snowmobile, an ATV, or a recreational motorboat while under the influence is in violation of what is known as the refusal law.
Under current law, in imposing a penalty for a violation of the intoxicated operation of an ATV, the intoxicated boating, or the intoxicated snowmobiling law, a court may only count as a previous conviction of the same law, or the applicable refusal law. For example, if a person is before the court for violating the intoxicated snowmobiling law or the snowmobile refusal law, the court may count only previous convictions of the intoxicated snowmobiling law and the snowmobile refusal law as prior convictions. Previous convictions of the intoxicated operation of an ATV law or of the intoxicated boating law or of the applicable refusal laws may not be counted. Under this bill, a court must count previous convictions of any of these intoxicated operation or refusal laws that occurred within the previous five years when imposing a penalty for a violation of any of these laws.
The bill makes the provisions of the intoxicated operation of an ATV, the intoxicated boating, and the intoxicated snowmobiling laws more consistent. These changes include:
1. Raising the age of absolute sobriety for the operation of snowmobiles and ATVs to 21. Current law requires absolute sobriety for persons under the age of 19 who are operating snowmobiles and ATVs and for persons under the age of 21 for motorboats.
2. Adopting the higher penalties for various violations where the penalties for violations of the intoxicated operation of an ATV law, the intoxicated boating law, the intoxicated snowmobiling law, and the refusal law conflict.
3. Imposing increased penalties for violating the intoxicating boating law or the intoxicated snowmobiling law or related refusal law if the motorboat or snowmobile is operated with a passenger under 16 years of age. The increased penalty already exists for a violation of the intoxicated operation of an ATV law and the ATV refusal law.
4. Repealing the provisions that imposed increased penalties for operating an ATV with an alcohol concentration level that is 0.17 or more. Under current law, these increased penalties are not imposed for violations of the intoxicated boating or the intoxicated snowmobiling laws.
The bill provides that when counting the number of convictions within the previous five years, the previous convictions for intoxicated operation of that same type of recreational vehicle or the related refusal law that occurred before the effective date of this bill are counted, but previous convictions for the other two types of recreational vehicles that occurred before the effective date of this bill are not counted.
The bill also requires a court to enter an order to suspend the person's privilege to operate a snowmobile, an ATV, and a motorboat for a period of not less than 12 months and not more that 16 months if the court imposes a penalty for a violation of the intoxicated operation of an ATV, the intoxicated boating, or the intoxicated snowmobiling law or the related refusal law. The bill also provides a forfeiture and additional six-month period of operating privilege suspension for violating the order of suspension.
If the person is found guilty of a violation of the intoxicated operation of an ATV, the intoxicated boating, or the intoxicated snowmobiling law or the related refusal law and has, within the previous five years, violated one of these laws, the bill requires the court to revoke the person's privilege to operate a motor vehicle for not less than six months and not more than 12 months. Under the bill, the person may be eligible for an occupational driver's license at any time during the revocation period. The bill requires the person whose operating privilege was revoked to pay a $140 reinstatement fee.
Under the bill, if a person has had his or her privilege to operate a motor vehicle suspended or revoked for a violation of a prohibition against operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, the person may not operate a snowmobile, an ATV, or a motorboat during the period of that motor vehicle operating privilege suspension or revocation. The bill also provides a forfeiture and an additional six-month period of operating privilege suspension for violating the order of suspension.
Under current law the sentences of persons who are convicted of certain second, third, or fourth offenses involving the operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant may be reduced if the violator successfully completes a period of probation that includes alcohol and other drug treatment. A person may complete a treatment program and receive a reduced period of imprisonment only once. This bill allows this option to be used for persons convicted of a violation of the
intoxicated operation of an ATV, the intoxicated boating, the intoxicated snowmobiling law, or the applicable refusal law.
Under current law, with limited exceptions, no person may operate a snowmobile without having completed a snowmobile safety course. For persons under the age of 16, the course must include six hours of classroom instruction. This bill repeals this classroom instruction requirement.
Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to result if the bill is enacted.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill
Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regulates the operation of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). DNR also regulates utility terrain vehicles (UTVs), in consultation with the Department of Transportation, under a pilot program that expires on June 30, 2012.
UTV pilot program
Under current law, a UTV is defined as a motor driven device, other than a golf cart or low-speed vehicle, that is designed to be used primarily off of a highway and that has, and was originally manufactured with, certain features, including a gross weight of more than 900 pounds but not more than 1,999 pounds, a cargo or dump box, four or more low-pressure tires, non-straddling seats for at least two occupants, and certain safety systems.
The UTV pilot program allows DNR, a federal agency, a county, or a municipality to designate an ATV route or trail within its respective jurisdiction for use by persons operating UTVs. The UTV pilot program provides that if a county adopts a resolution electing to participate in the pilot program, then the resolution applies to all of the municipalities within the county unless a municipality adopts a resolution to opt out of the program.
Under the UTV pilot program, no person may operate a UTV on a designated ATV route or trail unless DNR registers the UTV. The UTV pilot program authorizes DNR to register and charge registration fees for UTVs in the same manner as it registers and charges registration fees for ATVs that are registered for public use under current law. Under the UTV pilot program, certain laws that apply to ATVs also apply to UTVs, including traffic citation laws, rules of operation, prohibitions on operation while intoxicated, and certain equipment requirements. The UTV pilot program prohibits a person who is younger than 16 from operating a UTV and requires a person who is born on or after January 1, 1988, and who operates a UTV to hold a valid all-terrain vehicle safety certificate.
UTV operation and funding under the bill
This bill eliminates the UTV pilot program and establishes a permanent method for regulating the use of UTVs on ATV routes and trails. As with the pilot program, the bill authorizes DNR and federal agencies, counties, and municipalities
to designate ATV routes and trails that may be used by persons operating UTVs. Under the bill, as under the pilot program, most of the laws that apply to the operation of ATVs also apply to the operation of UTVs. As under the UTV pilot program, the bill allows the operation of UTVs only on those ATV routes and trails that are specifically designated as open to UTV operation. The bill requires DNR to establish uniform signs and standards for the operation of UTVs on ATV routes and trails. The definition of a UTV under the bill is similar to the definition under the pilot program except that it also specifies that a vehicle does not qualify as a UTV if the vehicle would meet federal motor vehicle safety standards, or if it is a dune buggy, mini-truck, or tracked vehicle. The bill also provides that a vehicle that satisfies all requirements to meet the definition of an ATV qualifies instead as a UTV if the vehicle exceeds the weight limit under the ATV definition.
As under the UTV pilot program, the bill generally prohibits a person under the age of 16 from operating a UTV. The bill authorizes a person who is under 16 years of age to operate a UTV if the person operates the UTV for an agricultural purpose and the person is under the supervision of a person who is over 18 years of age. As under current law, as it applies to ATV operation, these age restrictions do not apply to a person who operates a UTV exclusively on land under the management and control of the person's immediate family.
Under current law, the ATV program administered by DNR is primarily funded by fees generated from ATV registrations and the sale of trail passes. Under this bill, the UTV program is also primarily funded by UTV registrations and the sale of trail passes, but the bill authorizes DNR to expend these funds primarily for projects to improve or maintain those ATV trails that may be used by operators of UTVs.
The ATV program under current law is also funded by an annual transfer from the transportation fund to the conservation fund of an amount equal to the estimated ATV gas tax payment. The amount of the estimated ATV gas tax payment is calculated for each fiscal year by multiplying the number of registered ATVs (except those registered only for private use) by 25 gallons and then multiplying this product by the excise tax imposed on gasoline and diesel fuel on the last day of February of the previous fiscal year. This bill requires a similar annual transfer from the transportation fund to the conservation fund. The amount of the transfer under the bill is equal to the estimated UTV gas tax payment. This amount is calculated in the same manner as the ATV gas tax payment is calculated except that it does not include, in that calculation, commercial UTV registrations.
Miscellaneous provisions
This bill makes various other changes to the laws relating to ATVs. The changes include the following:
1. Current law does not require ATVs that are registered for public use to display a registration plate. This bill requires a person who owns an ATV or UTV that is registered for public use to furnish a plate on which the registration number is displayed. The bill also requires the person to affix a registration decal, furnished by DNR, to each side of the ATV or UTV.
2. The bill requires a person who registers an ATV or UTV for private use to affix a registration decal, furnished by DNR, to each side of the ATV or UTV. Current law does not require ATVs registered for private use to display registration decals.
3. Under current law, a manufacturer, dealer, distributor, or renter (commercial dealer) of ATVs must register with DNR and obtain a commercial ATV certificate. Upon registration, DNR issues three reflectorized plates to the commercial dealer and the dealer may allow the ATV to be operated only if a reflectorized plate is attached to the ATV. Under this bill, a commercial dealer of ATVs, UTVs, or both, must register with DNR and obtain a commercial ATV and UTV certificate. The bill requires a commercial dealer of ATVs or UTVs to display a plate or sign on the ATV or UTV but does not require DNR to supply reflectorized plates. Under the bill, DNR must issue registration decals upon registering a commercial dealer of ATVs or UTVs, and the commercial dealer may not allow the ATV or UTV to be operated without a decal affixed to the plate or sign furnished by the commercial dealer.
4. Under current law, with certain exceptions, a person who operates an ATV on a public ATV trail must obtain a nonresident trail pass from DNR and display the pass on the ATV. A person who registers an ATV is exempt from this requirement. This bill requires that a nonresident trail pass issued to an operator of an ATV or UTV must be permanently affixed in a highly visible location on the forward half of the ATV or UTV.
5. A nonresident trail pass issued under current law expires on June 30 of each year. This bill changes the expiration date for these annual passes to March 31 and authorizes DNR to issue five-day nonresident trail passes.
6. A public-use registration certificate for an ATV under current law is valid for a two-year period. This bill specifies that a public-use registration certificate is valid for both an ATV and a UTV beginning on April 1 or the date of issuance or renewal and ending March 31 of the second year following the date of issuance or renewal.
7. This bill provides that registration and nonresident trail pass requirements do not apply to a person operating an ATV or UTV during the first full weekend in June of each year.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
That's in a nut shell. Above each of the linked text is the web site URL to read the full language on the bills. But we have already discussed what the bills are for. The main point of the blog is to help understand the process of a bill becoming a law.
Thankfully, for you and I, there is a nice document by the state government that explains this process. However, before I link that nifty document, let's have a rewind to a video that I saw in grade school, more than ten years ago! This video is based on a federal process. It's basically the same process.
WOOOAAHHHh! Wait a minute. If you have been following our progress, you might notice something wrong here. On the above chart, it shows that a bill must pass the assembly before going to senate. That's true, if you're not working with elite cool law makers such as WATVA is. We actually have two bills with pretty much the same language that went to both the Senate and Assembly to expedite the process. Tricky eh? Not really. This is done a lot. If we didn't do it this way, with all the craziness in Madison, the bill might not make it to the governors desk before the session lets out for summer. I would call it being efficient, not tricky actually.
Anyways, so if we follow the chart, the Senate Committee has already been presented with the senate bill, and passed it. The Assembly today got to hear the bill and it passed. Now it's on to some more committees. See the chart.
Before you do that, here are some photos from today's hearings.
That's Randy Harden presenting the OWI Bill and holding a DNR piece of literature.
That's Gary Eddy from the DNR Law Enforcement side testifying in favor of the OWI Bill.
And there is Randy presenting the UTV bill.
So, after the other hearings and committees, the bills are sent on (if they pass) for the Governor to sign.
It's not all that complicated, just takes a little reading. I suggest the booklet. I shall link it again here:
December 22nd 2011 Wisconsin ATV Association, Inc. 3321 Behrens Parkway Sheboygan, WI 53081 www.watva.org
To: General Public
Re: Forest County ATV Association Receives Yamaha OHV Access Initiative Grant for $8,000
Sheboygan, WI - On December 20th, 2011 WATVA President Randy Harden, WATVA Special Projects Manager Hank Wozniel and NOHVIS Northeast Regional Coordinator Terry Coplien attended an award ceremony for the Forest County ATV Association as they received their $8,000 grant from Yamaha Motor Corporations OHV Access Initiative Grant.
This grant will be used for a project that would improve existing Forest Service classified and unclassified roads for ATV travel from the Nicolet State Trail to Blackwell. The segments of the road to be utilized are in various stages of development ranging from roads with good clearing width and pit run surfacing to closed roads that are in need of clearing and grubbing and sport surfacing. An estimated 2.75 acres of clearing and grubbing will be required to remove debris and vegetation to provide a clearing wide of approximately 14 feet. Approximately 0.9 miles will require spot surfacing and leveling. New construction will be required for a distance of 0.05 miles. One drainage structure will be required on a tributary to Spencer Creek. A crossing at Forest County Highway âTâ will be required. Survey, design and permits will be required for the entire project. This project would increase ATV riding opportunities in Forest County that would benefit tourism in the area. This segment is part of a larger objective of linking Forest County ATV routes and trails with Marinette County ATV trails.
Attending & speaking at the ceremony were:
Forest County ATV Association's President Jack Matuszewski
Representing Yamaha Motor Corp, from Antigo Yamaha Joe Yakey
RAC Committee Chairperson Tom Tallier
Wisconsin 12th District State Senator Jim Holperin (D)
Wisconsin 26th District State Representative Jeffrey Mursau (R)
U.S. Forest Service District Ranger Jeff Seefeldt
Forest County Board Chairman Erhard huettl Sr.
Town of Blackwell Chairman Ron Henkel
WATVA President Randy Harden
Forest County Administrator - Snowmobile Coordinator Dave Ziolkowski
Below is a video shot by WATVA President Randy Harden:
